safe haven for (unwanted) large parrots

[parrothaven]

SAFE HAVEN FOR LARGE PARROTS
Before you take your large parrot to the animal shelter, consider placing him in a parrot-friendly home environment in Ohio. My husband and I are opening our home and hearts to up to five large parrots (Cockatoos, Macaws, African Greys, Eclectus) that are in need of new homes. We have no kids, and I have bird experience and stay home all day. When you contact us, please specify if your bird is in need of medical care so that we can immediately schedule a vet visit. There is no fee for you to permanently place your parrot with us, and we will consider adopting your fid for a small fee. Pluckers, biters, screamers are all welcome and will be kept busy and happy, and nursed back to health. Cage donations are very much appreciated. Please contact (email) Annie @ friendsofparrots@yahoo.com.

[Lorelai]

Do you know if there are any parrot havens in Orange County, California? My boyfriend just put down his rat, and he was looking into owning a macaw, but they're so expensive! I thought that maybe adopting or rescuing one would cut the cost down to something more affordable.

[parrothaven]

Hi Lorelai,

Thanks for your message. I apologize for not having checked the board until today, thus not responding until now.
Off the top of my head I do not know of any rescues/shelters in your area. I could, however, ask and look around for you if you'd still like me to do that. If so, please email me privately at friendsofparrots@yahoo.com and we'll go from there.
I'm happy to hear that you are considering adopting a parrot from a shelter. I know that there are many parrots in CA that are looking for good new homes. Some things though that I'd like to point out and make sure you know, owning a large parrot is a HUGE responsibility - to name only a few things: they require a lot of attention, shred their toys in no time (ca. $25 per toy), have expensive diets (that include fresh fruits and veggies), are messy (fling their food) and loud (how would your neighbors like this? can you yourself handle a screaming parrot? a little parakeet can be pretty loud - imagine a macaw!), vet costs can add up nicely (regular check-ups, any tests, and feather plucking is unfortunately common in pet birds and may need veterinary treatment as well), you have to clean their big cages every day, you cannot have any teflon pots/pans or use any harsh chemicals, candles etc., can't keep dusty birds around the macaw (such as cockatoos, greys), you have to be prepared to be bit (ER anyone?). Shelters will not adopt a bird out to a smoker, someone who has dogs or cats (not all shelters have this requirement) or small kids, they'll want to check your vet and work references, and you have to be a home owner. If you have never owned a parrot at all, then getting a macaw is out of the question altogether. I suggest that, if you have the chance to, you first visit places that have macaws, and birdsit a friend's or relative's macaw for a week or so. You should then be able to tell whether this is something you want to be doing - for the rest of you life! On average large parrots can live up to 50-70 years, which means that you have to be committed to this animal for the rest of your life. Are you prepared to do this (it's like having a 2-year-old child for some 50+ years)? Do you have the time it takes, the finances, the patience? If the answer is no, and your boyfriend's desire of owning a macaw is only a temporary one that will soon go downhill, then do the parrot a favor and do not take it in. Being tossed around from home to home is hard on these sensitive beings. Most rescue parrots have already had a few homes before coming to the shelter.
If your boyfriend's reason for wanting to get a shelter bird is because they are "cheaper," then again I would advise him against getting one. Many parrots that come into shelters have medical and/or behavioral issues. The shelters do, however, take care of most of these problems before they put the birds out for adoption. But, if the problem(s) came up again, would you be willing to work with the bird on them? Or would you pass it on to another home again or throw it in your garage or closet as soon as something comes up such as illnesses that need extensive vet care, things such as plucking, biting, screaming? Who will take care of the bird while you are away traveling? Who will you give the bird to if anything happens to you?
I'm probably leaving out a whole lot of other things that I'd like to say - we've got visitors right now and I wanted to respond to this quickly before I forget to. All in all, I just want you to talk to your boyfriend and ask him some of these questions and see where he stands. It is very important that he realises them and that he is sure that this is what he really wants before he goes out and gets such a large parrot. If his intentions are to have a pretty piece in the livingroom, then please don't do this. Parrots are living beings, not pretty pieces of furniture. And one more thing, macaw cages cost at least $500 alone.

Please email me so we can talk about this some more, and I'm really sorry again that I had to rush like this (guests are waiting for me).

Best of wishes to you, and please educate yourselves as much as you can about large parrot ownership before you go out and get a macaw.
Sincerely,
Annie

[parrothaven]

Oh, one more thing, just out of curiousity, why did he have his rat "put down?"
Big jump from rat to macaw...

[parrothaven]

If anyone can add/contribute to my quick post, please do. That's what message boards are for!
People gotta realize that the initial adoption/purchase price for a large parrot is a very small fraction of the total expenses that the upkeep will cost. If you think buying the parrot is so expensive, how will you afford caring for the bird? You may cut on costs initially by getting a rescue, but you will not be able to cut on food/care/medical costs without harming the bird. That's my major concern about this post. Other than that, I -again- can only compliment anyone who wishes to adopt an animal, to give a shelter/rescue pet a good, loving, caring, responsible, stable, lifelong home.
Annie

[Lorelai]

Oh, one more thing, just out of curiousity, why did he have his rat "put down?"
Big jump from rat to macaw...

Gus (the rat) was sick with myco, a common rat infection. Gus was older (over two years, and they're expected to live 2-3 years) so he had a harder time fighting the infection. Antibiotics and the oxygen chamber weren't helping him, and he was suffering. We chose to put the poor baby down so he wasn't in pain or struggling anymore! My boyfriend hasn't stopped getting teary eyed yet. He adores his pets, and takes very good care of them. They are his children! :hug:

Thanks for your info- I'll pass it along to him. We don't own our house, so I'm not sure that we'd be able to house a parrot!

[parrothaven]

Hi again Lorelai,

Oh OK, he does sound very caring - glad to hear he's so good with his pets!
If you're renting a house (it sounds like you do, if I understood you correctly), perhaps asking the owners for permission (and having that in a written document) would allow you to get a rescue macaw. Though personally I'd recommend you wait until you have your own house.

Best wish to both of you, and thanks again for writing! :)
Annie

[Levi]

Annie, keep up the good work with the birds you care for! It sounds like you have great energy.

...

http://birdperch.proboards32.com/

[parrothaven]

Hi Levi,

Thank you for your kind message and support!! :)
That is a cute little turtle (your avatar) - do you own turtles? :)

[parrothaven]

Lorelai,

Check this out: http://www.rescuers.com/rescues/Birds.asp

Annie